Improvement in covers for sewing-machine tables



H. JENSEN.

Covers for Sewing-Machine Tables.

Patented August 5, 1873 1 NITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

HENRY JENSEN, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

IMPRQVEMENT IN COVERS FOR SEWING-MACHINE TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,561, dated August 5, 1873; application filed July 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatI, HENRYJENSEN, of Long Island city, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tops or Covers for Sewing- Machine Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a neat, cheap, and durable cover for sewing-machines, which is attached to the sewing-machine table, and is constructed in such a manner that when the machine is in use the cover will fold itself down at the back side of the table, where it is entirely out of the way, and when desired the cover will close in a circular form over the top of the table, thus inclosin g the machinery and protecting it from dust or injury. The nature of my invention consists in a flexible cover connected to and operated by pivoted end pieces and a hinged leaf to overlap the edge of said cover and lock the same when open. It further consists in operating the cover by an eccentric in such a manner that while the cover is closed its perpendicular diameter is much greater than its horizontal diameter. It also consists in so hinging a portion of the leaf of the table that when the said portion is turned down, which is necessary when the machine is in use, it keeps all the parts of the cover in proper position.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention open and with portions broken away to exhibit the mode of operation. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of my invention.

Letters of like name and kind indicate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents a frame, which, for sewing-machines, are usually made of iron, of suitable dimensions to support the machine. B represents the leaf or table located on the top of the frame A. The machine being secured to the leaf, the former is not shown, as it is not my invention. 0 represents the flexible cover, which is made of narrow strips of wood, with any design of ornamental molding stuck on the outer surface, while the inner surface is made flat. These strips are secured on their flat sides to any strong fabric or thin leather to the number sufficient to form the cover. The ends of the cover are in the form of a half circle, with a rabbet formed on the inner edge of the periphery, into which said rabbets the flexible cover fits when the machine is inclosed within the cover. D represents a circular groove made in the end of the portion of the frame in which aguide friction roller or pin, L, works, for the purpose of keeping the flexible portion of the cover in its posit-ion while being opened and closed.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the real center of the cover is at a, while the center of motion is at the bolt 6. The circumference of motion of the cover while being opened and closed is confined to the circumference of the circular groove 1), which, being much smaller than the real circumference of the cover, necessitates the making of the slot i, through which a stationary bolt,,e, passes. This slot i allows the cover to compensate for the diflerence in the circumference of motion and the cover.

In Fig. 2 n represents a spring, which may be made of any suitable material and form; but I usually use flat rubber, as I have found it most suitable for the purpose it is designed, which is to keep the rear side of the cover in its position when opened or closed. One end of the spring is attached to the under side of the leaf, while the other end connects with a bar or block, w. When the cover is closed by the action of the spring this block to is brought close up to the under side of the leaf, which said block, being rigidly secured to the inside of the lower bar of the cover, keeps the lower back edge of thecover firmly in its place. H represents the position of the cover when thrown back off the machine. 0 represents a portion of the leaf hinged. In Fig. 2 it is shown as being turned over, in which position it is when the cover is closed; and when the cover is opened this portion of the leaf is then turned down, which secures and holds all the parts of the cover in their places.

The operation of my invention is simple and easily understood. When the cover is thrown back from 0d the machine the guide-roller F follows in the groove D, which said groove, being smaller than the circumference of the cover, causes the end of the cover to move, and, being guided by the slot z and bolt 6, compensates for the difference between the circumference of the cover and motion.

The advantages of my invention will be readily seen from the fact that itis always at hand, and when the machine is in use the cover is folded back of the machine, whereit is entirely out of the way, so that it is not in any way cumbersome.

My invention is also equally adapted to jewelers tables and many other purposes where a cover is needed. It is always at hand and the work can be readily covered, and thus be protected from dust and other injurious effects when not in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettially as set forth.

HENRY JENSEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. N. SMITH, 0. ROGERS. 

